Corona pandemic increases inequality in the world - Hohenheim guest researcher and colleagues develop COVID index for policy advice [24.05.21]
The pandemic of COVID-19 brought additional challenges to low and middle income countries, as hospital structures, expensive medical equipment, protectives and sufficient vaccines are not readily available. The aim of a recent study was to create a new indicator, the so-called COVID index, to analyze the responsiveness of hospital structures to the coronavirus pandemic in Brazilian micro-regions. Findings reveal that the heterogeneity of microregions’ hospital structures follows the patterns of socioeconomic inequalities. By using the novel COVID Index, policymakers and hospital managers have straightforward information to decide which regions must receive new investments and reallocate underutilized resources.
Picture Source & Credit: Pixabay | Luiz Gonzaga DE SOUZA
Original Article:
Ferraz, D. 1,2,3; Mariano, E.B. 3; Manzine, P.R. 4; Moralles, HF. 5; Paulo César Morceiro, 6; Torres, BG 7; Rodrigues de Almeida, M 7,8; Soares de Mello, JC 7; Daisy Aparecida do Nascimento Rebelatto 9 (2021) COVID Health Structure Index: The Vulnerability of Brazilian Microregions. Soc Indic Res (2021). doi.org/10.1007/s11205-021-02699-3
Affiliation
- Department of Innovation Economics, University of Hohenheim, Wollgrasweg 23, 2nd floor, Room 520i, Stuttgart, Germany
- Department of Economics, Federal University of Ouro Preto (UFOP), Rua do Catete 166 Centro, Mariana/MG, 35420-000, Brazil
- Department of Production Engineering, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Núcleo Residencial Presidente Geisel, Avenida Engenheiro Luiz Edmundo Carrijo Coube, 14-01, Bauru, 17033360, Brazil
- Department of Gerontology, Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar), Rod. Washington Luiz, s/n, São Carlos, SP, 13565-905, Brazil
- Department of Production Engineering, Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar), Rod. Washington Luiz, s/n, São Carlos, SP, 13565-905, Brazil
- DST/NRF South African Chair in Industrial Development, College of Business and Economics, University of Johannesburg, 31 Henley Road, Aucklandpark, Johannesburg, 2092, South Africa
- Department of Production Engineering, Fluminense Federal University (UFF), Rua Passo da Pátria, Campus Praia Vermelha, Bloco D - sala 309, Niterói, 24210-240, Brazil
- Department of Production Engineering, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Av. Senador Salgado Filho, n° 3000, Campus Universitário Lagoa Nova - Centro de Tecnologia, Natal, 59078-970, Brazil
- Department of Production Engineering, University of São Paulo (EESC/USP), Av. Trab. São Carlense, 400 - Parque Arnold Schimidt, São Carlos, 13566-590, Brazil
Abstract
Many developing countries have highly unequal health systems across their regions. The pandemic of COVID-19 brought an additional challenge, as hospital structures equipped with doctors, intensive care units and respirators are not available to a sufficient extent in all regions. Using Data Envelopment Analysis, we create a COVID Index to verify whether the hospital structures in 543 Brazilian microregions are adequate to deal with COVID-19 and to verify whether public policies were implemented in the right direction. The results indicate that hospital structures in the poorest microregions were the most vulnerable, although the peak of COVID-19 occurred in the richest microregions (Sao Paulo). The Southeast states could relocate hospital resources or even patients between their regions. The relocation was not possible in many states in the Northeast, as the health system poorly assisted the interior of these states. These findings reveal that the heterogeneity of microregions’ hospital structures follows the patterns of socioeconomic inequalities. We conclude that it is easier for the wealthier regions to reallocate hospital resources internally than for the poorest regions. By using the COVID Index, policymakers and hospital managers have straightforward information to decide which regions must receive new investments and reallocate underutilized resources.
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